Santa Cruz on the London Tube

This postcard from the London underground was posted on Lauren Labadie's Facebook page.

After spending most of her waking hours going to clubs and festivals to see live music, Harbor High School grad Lauren, 22, left Santa Cruz two years ago to study the concert business at City University in London.

She is getting a bachelor's in Music Events Management and is already signed up to work at the 2012 Olympics in London. Besides classroom study, her program presents shows at London's famous Roundhouse, an old train turnaround converted to a concert hall. Some of the bands that have played for her class include The Dunwell Brothers, Jim Stapley, Taking Back Sunday and Conor Molloy.

Lauren is the type of  music fan who thinks nothing of camping in the heat at Bonnaroo in Tennessee and booking down to Coachella after volunteering at Austin's South by Southwest festival. She is to concert halls what Michael Phelps is to swimming pools: It's her element.

She undoubtedly inherited some of her passion from her father, Bruce Labadie, who books the San Jose Jazz Festival and that city's Music in the Park and has brought some shows to the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz.

Her goal, however, isn't to return to the Cruz. She wants to head to Austin, TX, the so-called live-music capital of the world, which some call the Santa Cruz of Texas (the city's Keep Austin Weird logo predated ours).

"I miss my family, dog and friends in Santa Cruz, as well as the weather and active lifestyle," says Lauren. "I do not miss living in Santa Cruz, but it is always refreshing to visit and relax from the boisterous lifestyle in London."

And what is it about live music that makes her want it for a career?

"I definitely prefer live music," she says. "I love the energy, engagement with the artists and fellow patrons—and the music is almost always better when performed in a live setting."